I’m Working Past Age 65. When Do I Enroll in Medicare?

If you will be working and receiving health coverage through your employer* past the age of 65, you will not enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period. 

What is the Initial Enrollment Period?

Instead, you will enroll during what’s called a Special Enrollment Period—without having to pay a late enrollment penalty. Read more below about the Special Enrollment Period and was to avoid penalties when signing up for Medicare.

How do I avoid the late enrollment penalty?

Information on the Special Enrollment Period

A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is a time in your life when you’re allowed to make changes to your Medicare enrollment due to special circumstances.

 

There are many SEPs (get a full list of scenarios on Medicare.gov), but losing your employer health coverage—such as when you retire from your job—is one of them.

Good to know: Medicare does not offer family plans. If you are married, you and your spouse are each individually responsible for enrolling yourselves in Medicare. You do not have to make the same plan selection as your spouse.

You qualify for this Special Enrollment Period any time after your Initial Enrollment Period ends. It lasts eight months after your employer health coverage or your employment ends, whichever comes first.

 

Plan ahead to avoid gaps in coverage! Contact your Human Resources  department and check when your employer health coverage ends. Plan to sign up for Medicare about a month earlier than that. This helps ensure you will not go without health coverage for any period.

Good to know: COBRA (more on this below) is not considered employer health coverage, and enrolling in COBRA will not change when your 8-month SEP starts and ends.

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) allows you to continue your employer health coverage for a limited period—but it’s often more expensive than other options.

 

Keep in mind that COBRA is also not considered creditable Part D drug coverage.

 

If you wait to sign up for Part D without having creditable drug coverage (coverage that's expected to pay, on average, at least as much as Medicare drug coverage), you might be responsible for paying a Part D late enrollment penalty.

 

What is the Medicare late enrollment penalty?

Talk with your Human Resources department to make sure you understand your options—including the date that your employer health insurance ends and whether you are eligible for COBRA.

 

Once you have determined when your coverage ends and when you will sign up for Original Medicare, you can look into alternative coverage options—including Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement plans, and Medicare prescription drug plans. What are these?

Yes. In addition to qualifying for other Special Enrollment Periods, there are set times each year when you can make changes to your Medicare enrollment. 

  • Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) – Anyone who is eligible for Medicare may enroll or make changes (drop or switch) to their current enrollment. Coverage begins January 1 of the following year.
  • Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) – Anyone who previously enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Enrollment Period can switch Medicare Advantage plans or return to Original Medicare. Coverage begins the first of the month after your request is received. 

*Or if your spouse is still working and you will receive health coverage through your spouse’s employer.